Quick Summary
Meta Layoffs AI Update (October 2025): Around 600 employees were laid off from Meta’s AI division. An Indian-origin entrepreneur, Sudarshan Kamath, founder of Smallest AI, has offered them new opportunities with high-paying roles ranging up to $600,000. This move is being seen as a lifeline for skilled AI engineers hit by Meta’s restructuring.
Meta Layoffs AI: Indian-Origin Startup Hires 600 Workers
Meta’s latest job cuts have sparked a major shift in the AI employment landscape. The company recently laid off around 600 professionals across its Artificial Intelligence research, infrastructure, and superintelligence teams. However, a new opportunity has emerged for those affected — thanks to an Indian-origin entrepreneur’s quick response.
Sudarshan Kamath, founder of the San Francisco-based AI startup Smallest AI, announced plans to hire a large number of the displaced Meta employees. Kamath said his firm is expanding its speech and conversational AI teams and welcomes applications from those impacted by the Meta layoffs.
The startup is reportedly offering generous pay packages, with salaries ranging between $200,000 and $600,000 annually, along with flexible equity options. Kamath’s announcement quickly caught attention across professional networks, earning widespread appreciation for his gesture of support toward affected engineers.
Meta’s layoffs are part of a wider internal restructuring intended to streamline its AI operations. The move affects teams linked to Meta’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) and superintelligence projects, as the company aims to realign resources toward commercial AI integration.
For the broader AI community, this event highlights how rapidly the job landscape can change in tech. While Meta tightens its focus, smaller firms like Smallest AI are seizing the chance to acquire top-tier talent and scale faster.
For many of the 600 laid-off engineers, this Indian-origin AI startup’s offer could mark a new chapter — proving that every layoff can also open the door to a new opportunity.
FAQs on Meta Layoffs AI and Indian-Origin Startup Hiring
Q1: What triggered the recent Meta Layoffs AI cuts?
Meta announced around 600 job cuts in its AI division as part of a major internal reorganization to streamline research and accelerate commercial AI development.
Q2: Who is behind the Indian-origin AI startup offering jobs?
The startup, called Smallest AI, is founded by Sudarshan Kamath, an Indian-origin entrepreneur based in San Francisco, known for his work in speech and conversational AI.
Q3: How many employees is the startup planning to hire?
Smallest AI has opened positions for up to 600 former Meta engineers, matching nearly the same number affected by the layoffs.
Q4: What are the salary packages offered by the AI startup?
The company is offering salaries ranging from $200,000 to $600,000 per year, depending on experience and role, along with equity options.
Q5: Which Meta teams were most affected by the layoffs?
The layoffs primarily affected Meta’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR), AI infrastructure, and superintelligence projects, as part of its reorganization plan.
